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I believe they are at minimum Generation 3. In Canada they are federally regulated and all tests are sent to a central lab in whatever city you are in or closest to. Its called MEIA, which is the Elisa test. 3rd Generation is obviously very current. The 4th is a bit different.

If you have waited 12 weeks from your last exposure (the Canadian guideline) your tests are conclusive regardless of the generation of test.

If you'd like to give further details of why you need to test, the board can evaluate your risk (if any) to answer whether or not you actually need a test.

Test results in Canada can take up to 10 days to arrive, and test for both HIV1/HIV2

Thank you Andy. With that information being said and the fact that a 12 week test is the US standard. How accurate would an 8 week test on a generation 3 test be? I mean is there a dramatic difference between 3rd and 4th generations? From reading some of the other information it seems like the difference is about a week earlier detection on a 4th generation vs 3rd generation test.

A negative result at eight weeks with any generation is a good indication of your hiv status, but it is not considered conclusive. Trying to fathom out the differences in the generations of tests is pointless, because we will always tell you that you need to test at 12-13 weeks for a conclusive result. You might be worrying yourself unnecessarily anyway - but we don't know what has you worried in the first place.

As you don't seem to want to discuss your situation with us, I'll give you the basic info you need to be aware of. Please also check out the Welcome Thread where you'll find links to the relevant Lessons found elsewhere on this website.

You need to be using condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, every time, no exceptions until such time as you are in a securely monogamous relationship where you have both tested for ALL STIs together. To agree to have unprotected intercourse is to consent to the possibility of being infected with a sexually transmitted infection.

Have a look through the condom and lube links in my signature line so you can use condoms with confidence.

Anyone who is sexually active should be having a full sexual health care check-up, including but not limited to hiv testing, at least once a year and more often if unprotected intercourse occurs.

If you aren't already having regular, routine check-ups, now is the time to start. As long as you make sure condoms are being used for intercourse, you can fully expect your routine hiv tests to return with negative results. Don't forget to always get checked for all the other sexually transmitted infections as well, because they are MUCH easier to transmit than hiv.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Hi Ann... Thanks for your response. I certainly feel like I'm wasting everyone's time trying to split hairs. Thank you all for "humouring" me. The concern I have is a while back I received oral sex from a girl. It was rather rough... More or less me holding her head while thrusting into her mouth. I am uncircumsized and don't know if that makes a difference or not. I'm not sure if there was any blood in her mouth or abrasions on my penis. I took a test at 8 weeks and was now starting to worry that this may not be all the testing I should have done.

I've read that symptoms are no way to diagnose. However with that being said I've also read about an ARS rash. I just had a couple of questions about this. If it occurred would it occur just on the back? And if it was part of a series of symptoms would it still be present after a fever had come and gone? And my last question was if someone were going through ARS related symptoms could a significantly high fever be lowered by taking Advil or would one just have to let it run it's course?Thanks again to everyone that has answered my earlier questions.

You have to get off the wheel of fear of HIV. The questions won't stop in your head until you stop them. You didn't have a risk, therefore you couldn't possibly have ARS. You need to force yourself to accept that you didn't have a risk and stop reading everything online because it will drive you crazy if you let it.

ARS is not a subtle event if it occurs at all. NOT SUBTLE. Since you know symptoms mean nothing, what good does answering your rash question do? Answer: the symptoms show up all at once and then eventually pass. The fever is severe advil wouldn't mask it, the rash is variable and not specific enough to say anything more.

Try to stop before you cross over into worried well...if you needed another test, the board would tell you in no uncertain terms. Seriously, I am in no way being unkind ok...just telling you honestly.

Thanks Sae. I will try to let this go. I was mostly worried about someone else that I might have infected but since I don't have HIV I guess it's pretty impossible to infect anyone else. Thanks again for taking the time to indulge my worries.

I was just wondering if someone might comment on something for me because it's annual physical time and I am completely freaked out that when I take my HIV test like I plan to take it will be positive.

My risk was I had a female perform oral sex on me without a condom. It was quite rough with me holding her head and pushing into her mouth. Is there a chance for infection via this route?

As far as HIV is concerned you were not at risk when you got a blowjob. Uncounted millions of blow jobs later and after 25 years in the epidemic, there's never been a documented case of transmission in that manner. And you aren't going to make history by becoming the first.

But there are other STDs out there which are much easier to pick up, so if you are sexually active it's a good idea to have the standard STD panel done at least annually.

Thanks Andy. I'll be going to get the blood drawn tomorrow so I am going to try to relax and not worry too much about it. Now if only I could do just that and not freak out worrying that the doctor will be calling me saying he needs to see me right away

Nope this is my only possible exposure. I know there are risks in other activities even with condoms with the small possibility for breakage etc. I guess deep down I believe that receiving oral is no risk too but when it comes close to testing time I just freak out about it... And start creating what if scenarios.

I've merged your new thread into your original thread - where you should post all your additional thoughts or questions. It helps us to help you when you keep all your additional thoughts or questions in one thread.

If you need help finding your thread when you come here, click on the "Show own posts" link under your name in the left-hand column of any forum page.

Please also read through the Welcome Thread so you can familiarize yourself with our Forum Posting Guidelines. Thank you for your cooperation.

You were told back in June that getting a blowjob is NOT a risk for hiv infection. That information hasn't changed, nor will it.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Sorry Ann I didn't mean to offend anyone or waste anyone's time. I was just looking for some reassurance in the wrong place perhaps. This is, after all, not my psychiatrist's office and I think I have treated it as such yesterday/today.

I'm curious but would anyone know if a low RBC count would be any sort of indication of one's HIV status? I've never had a low RBC count and I just got a call from the doctor saying I had to come in and that was the reason. My HIV test results are not back yet.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

I know this is probably a ridiculous question to ask but if one were to rub the head of their penis on someone's face that had bad acne would that constitute a risk? I mean there could have been open wounds on their face. I know I have probably crossed into the land of the absurd but if someone could just entertain me.